#medicago

[katiajewelbox]

Plant Immune System Part 3

The plant immune system is the topic of my PhD thesis, which I'm currently writing following several years of lab-based research as a PhD student at Imperial College London under the supervision of Professor Colin Turnbull.

Here's an introduction to my research, which focused on how certain plants defend themselves against aphids.

Aphids are an important insect pest that threaten agriculture worldwide. As we learned in the previous post, plant resistance (R) genes control resistance to specific pests and pathogens through interaction with effectors from the invaders. Since examples of R gene-dependent aphid resistance have been documented in different plant species, aphid-specific R genes may enable the development of resistant crops.

In the model plant Medicago truncatula, there are some varieties that are resistant to aphids and other varieties that are susceptible to Pea Aphids (Acyrthosiphon pisum). Whether the plant is resistant also depends on the variety of aphid. In my project, the A17 plant is resistant to PS01 aphids but not to N116 aphids, while the DZA plant is susceptible to both aphid varieties.

What is the key difference in the resistant versus susceptible plants? Resistant A17 plants have a portion of their genome “Resistance to Acyrthosiphon pisum 1” (RAP1) which determines resistance to PS01 aphids, but the genes controlling the defence response and physiological defence mechanisms remain unknown. Two candidate R genes located in RAP1, designated “RAP1A” and “RAP1B”, may control resistance.

My main objective in my PhD project has been to determine whether RAP1A and RAP1B control aphid resistance, and to investigate the RAP1-mediated defence response. I look forward to sharing the findings in publications and in talks next year!

Image credit: Original diagram by Katia Hougaard with images from the Turnbull Lab.

#katia_plantscientist#science#biology#research#plants#botany#plantbiology#phdproject#plantbiology#plantscience#sciencecommunication#diagrams#phd#imperialcollegelondon#phdthesis#medicago#aphid#plantimmunesystem#pestsandpathogens#plantpathology#womeninscience#plantbiologist

[crudlynaturephotos]

[indizombie]

The majority of the world's flu vaccines are grown in chicken eggs, but Canada-based Medicago is opting for plants for its COVID-19 vaccine. Professor Tscharke said while protein for vaccines often is grown in fermenters or vats in factories, it's possible to use a plant instead, which can be quick and inexpensive. The idea behind this one is that it contains proteins that mimic the structure of the virus, but does not contain genetic material. The vaccine is grown in a wild species indigenous to Australia and is related to tobacco, and the company is partially funded by cigarette maker Philip Morris International. The plant-based vaccine is still ultimately injected, but Professor Tscharke says the broader idea of growing vaccines on plants is another platform given a push during the pandemic.

Erin Handley, ‘Vaccines that grow on leaves and don't need needles: A look at COVID jabs you may not have heard of’, ABC

[seedkeeping]

Today I planted snails. Not actual snails. Meticago scutellata. I unraveled maybe ten of their pods, revealing four to six eensy yellow kidney-shaped seeds in each. This Southern European odd-ball is the cousin to alfalfa, and you can prepare the seeds as a bean (though they are very small - it would take a massive planting)! They are more commonly eaten as green pods fresh in salads or as a steamed vegetable. Read more about it in William Woys Weaver's book: "100 Vegetables and Where They Come From". We are trying to increase our stock to be able to offer these seeds - hopefully next year! The first photo is today, the others are from previous years. Thanks to @elizandrews195 for helping maintain our seed stock and for the beautiful art on the seed packet! #medicagoscutellata #medicago #alfalfa #snails #legume #fabaceae #williamwoysweaver #roughwoodseedcollection (at Newtown Square, Pennsylvania) https://www.instagram.com/p/B-2ynoZA8rh/?igshid=ddi613jafza5

[globularia-alypum]

Medicago arborea L., Fabaceae

16.4.2020, Pevki-Athens, Attica, Greece

[lovecraftsgarden]

Medicago orbicularis

Blackdisk Medick, Button Clover

(via)

[saatkontor]

Yellow Lucerne, Sickle Alfalfa (Medicago falcata) Seed source: www.saatkontor.de

[dendroica]

Black Medick, Medicago lupulina (by me)